Banks have opened multiple channels to assist their customers in the bank account-Aadhaar linking process.

Bank account holders are required to link their Aadhaar by December 31, 2017

If you haven't linked your Aadhaar card - or the 12-digit Unique Identity Number (UID) issued by the UIDAI (Unique Identification Authority of India) - with your bank account yet, you are required to do so by December 31, 2017. While the government has set a December 31 deadline for existing holders of bank accounts to seed their Aadhaar number (UID), the revenue department has said failing to do so will result in the account becoming inoperable. The UIDAI, the authority that issues Aadhaar card, has said the linking of UID (Unique Identity Number) with bank accounts and mobile SIMs, among others, is mandatory and deadlines are "valid and lawful" as of now. Bank accounts have to be linked to Aadhaar by December 31.

Many banks have opened multiple channels to assist their customers in the process of linking their savings accounts with Aadhaar card. Here are some of the facilities offered by India's largest bank SBI (State Bank of India) and three largest private sector banks - ICICI Bank, HDFC Bank and Axis Bank:

How to link Aadhaar card with SBI savings account

Linking of SBI savings bank account with Aadhaar - ATM

SBI customers can access any of the bank's ATMs to seed their Aadhaar with the bank account.

SBI customers having subscribed to the bank's internet banking facility can log into www.onlinesbi.com and access the link "Link your Aadhaar number" under "My Accounts", appearing on the left panel of the screen, according to SBI.

Clicking on the link directs the user to a screen where he or she has to select the Account number, input the Aadhaar number and click on 'Submit'.

The last two digits of registered mobile number (non-editable) will be displayed to the customer, according to SBI. The status of mapping will be advised to the customer's registered mobile number, it noted.

SBI - SMS

For bank account-Aadhaar linking via an SMS service, SBI customers can send their Aadhaar UID from their mobile number registered with the bank in via SMS to 567676 in the following format: UID (space) Aadhaar number (space) Account number

In case the mobile number is not registered or in case the Aadhaar is already linked to Account, an SMS reply will be sent to you, according to the SBI website.

If your mobile number is registered with SBI, the user will receive an SMS confirmation of the seeding request, it noted.

The Aadhaar number will be verified by Bank with UIDAI. In case it fails verification, an SMS will be sent to the customer to contact any SBI branch along with Aadhaar number or e-Aadhaar.

SBI bank - branch visit

SBI customers can visit any branch of the bank with a copy of their Aadhaar number or e-Aadhaar. At the branch, a Letter of Request will be obtained from customer along with the Xerox copy of Aadhaar letter. After necessary verification, the Aadhaar linking will be done by the branch. An SMS will be sent to customer's registered mobile number regarding the status of seeding, SBI adds.

ICICI Bank has provided an app, called iMobile, that offers facilities such as payment through UPI (Unified Payment Interface), among several other banking services.

ICICI Bank has listed on its website steps to use the mobile app iMobile to link Aadhaar with the bank account. These are:

Login to the app using the internet banking ID and password or four-digit PIN, says ICICI Bank.

Click on 'Services', and under the 'Instabanking Services' section, click on the 'Update Aadhaar' option.

Enter the 12-digit Aadhaar number (UID) and proceed by submitting the request.

After this, the user may download the app or or SMS iMobile to 5676766 to get the download link, according to the ICICI Bank website.

"Once you submit the number, we will call you to assist with iMobile activation. Please ensure that the mobile number is registered for mobile banking and has GPRS facility activated," ICICI Bank adds.

ICICI Bank - internet banking

The customer is required to log in using the internet banking user ID and password.

After this, the user is required to enter the 12-digit Aadhaar number and then re-enter. Proceed by clicking on 'Submit'.

After this, Aadhaar can be updated in the bank account using a link provided by ICICI Bank.

ICICI Bank - ATM

Swipe the card.

Select language.

Login with your ATM PIN.

Select Aadhaar Updation under the 'More Options' section in the menu.

Enter the 12-digit Aadhaar Number, re-enter it and proceed by selecting 'Submit'.

ICICI Bank - phone banking

Dial ICICI Bank's customer care number.

After this step, the caller is required to select his or her desired language from the options menu.